Non Fleming books adapted into movies- your choices!

MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
in Literary 007 Posts: 4,053
Sorry if this has been done before. I was wondering what everyone's choices would be for non Fleming books that should be adapted for the next movies. EON has been mostly miss in terms of original screenplays, and I feel that some of the books would be better as movies. My top pick would be Carte Blanche. It has a great starting point for a new 007 actor. It can bring a lot of characters that deserve more screen time. It would great to see Felix Leiter get in on part of an actual action scene. It also would be nice to see Mary Goodnight get a cinematic redemption, as she is a important character in Ian Fleming's books. After The Man With The Golden Gun, she's earned another shot in the movies, better written and portrayed. Lastly it's time for May to be introduced into the movies. Even for a short scene, she can help Bond feel safe and give advice. I know it's not the best book, but I feel that this would be the one that I would make. Let me know what Non-Fleming books you want as movies!
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Comments

  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    Agreed about Colonel Sun, though I'd be actually interested in a period piece TV show faithfully adapting all Fleming books (perhaps Trigger Mortis too) and having Colonel Sun as the final episode.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    I know that Colonel Sun is the favorite for a lot of people. However, it's three big plot points have been taken in recent movies. M is kidnapped in The World is Not Enough. Colonel Sun was the original villain's name in Die Another Day. Lastly the touture scene is used word for word in Spectre. If EON wants to make it into a movie, they need to do it fast.
  • Posts: 12,837
    I think bits of Trigger Mortis would work really well. F1 is a bit too flashy now imo but some sort of racing setting would be cool (@patb wrote a great script with a bit at Le Mans). I think the whole Japanese playing card (can't remember what they were called, sorry) gimmick the bad guy had was interesting too. And I'm genuinely surprised that after so many years of books, films, games, etc full of elaborate death trap situations, it took so long for someone to have Bond being buried alive. I think that bit would bd cool to see in a future film.
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    I know that Colonel Sun is the favorite for a lot of people. However, it's three big plot points have been taken in recent movies. M is kidnapped in The World is Not Enough. Colonel Sun was the original villain's name in Die Another Day. Lastly the touture scene is used word for word in Spectre. If EON wants to make it into a movie, they need to do it fast.

    That's my issue too. I liked Colonel Sun but they've nicked from it so much now that a direct adaptation would feel pointless. Do we really need to see M kidnapped again? I'd prefer a story that doesn't involve M or anyone else at MI6 outside of the briefing/London scenes.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    I would also like to see Trigger Mortis be adapted. I feel that it could be modernized, but I wouldn't mind it as long as Pussy Galore comes back! I would also like Never Dream of Dying or Devil May Care, as I feel that Rene Mathis deserves cinematic redemption.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    Make him a more straight forward ally, none of this "is he evil or not" stuff. He's a flat out ally in the books, portray him this way!
  • edited June 2018 Posts: 4,599
    I think one of the issues with Bond now is finding backdrops and locations with real class. Life in general is so dumbed down and corporate that locations that match the classic values of the man himself are in short supply. Once you find those venues/events, then Bond just works as he is in great surroundings

    @thelivingroyale Thanks for the comment. Le Mans is a perfect location and, in the re-write, Bond meets M at Lords.

    Wimbledon tennis would also be a great venue IMHO and perhaps Ascot? Goodwood would alos be perfect (the House, motor racing and hourse racing). The Temprate glass house at Kew Gardens would also be great for a set piece.

    In contrast, F1 at Silverstone is just crass re Bond and some horse racing has gone down hill with pop concerts and fights breaking out etc.

    Bond needs to link up with the "best of British" and there is still much to be tapped into. (Centrepoint not on my list)

    PS Shuttleworth House (with its collection of classic 1930s aircraft) would also be great. (A taste of John Buchan)

    PPS many of these locations also have real history behind them and , therefore, can partly deal with the issue of Bond looking too modern. On the basis that a "Bond in the 60s" will never be made, putting him into historic locations gives the movie a classic feel.

  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    How about using Roger Moore's books on his life to make an overall movie? He would be fun for any actor to play. Also, he lived an interesting life, a story worth telling.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,882
    Honestly, I have enjoyed some of the post-Fleming books more than some of the actual Fleming books. For example, I don't like GF or DAF, but, I do like LR, FSS, IC, ROH, and HTTK. I posted a ranking of the books a few years ago, my top 5 were all Fleming books, after that it was a free for all.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    Honestly, I have enjoyed some of the post-Fleming books more than some of the actual Fleming books. For example, I don't like GF or DAF, but, I do like LR, FSS, IC, ROH, and HTTK. I posted a ranking of the books a few years ago, my top 5 were all Fleming books, after that it was a free for all.

    These are all books I would like to see get adapted. Fingers crossed that EON takes a chance on a non Ian Fleming novel one day!
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    The Union Trilogy by Raymond Benson.
    Of course, discard Marc-Ange Draco’s involvement from the third book.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    The Union Trilogy by Raymond Benson.
    Of course, discard Marc-Ange Draco’s involvement from the third book.

    That's what I think too. Meanwhile, film them back to back to back, Lord of the Rings/ Harry Potter style.
  • Posts: 5,774
    The Union Trilogy by Raymond Benson.
    Of course, discard Marc-Ange Draco’s involvement from the third book.
    And poor Mathis's fate as well.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Gerard wrote: »
    The Union Trilogy by Raymond Benson.
    Of course, discard Marc-Ange Draco’s involvement from the third book.
    And poor Mathis's fate as well.
    Agreed.
    Blinding him wasn't the greatest call to make.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    I agree on that, too. Still NDOD is a great conclusion.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    I agree on that, too. Still NDOD is a great conclusion.
    Agreed, it's actually one of my favourite non-Fleming Bond novels.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,728
    Look what they did with Mathis already in QoS anyhow!
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Look what they did with Mathis already in QoS anyhow!

    You're right. As I said before, he deserves redemption. He's Bond's friend just as much as Felix Leiter.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    The Union Trilogy by Raymond Benson.
    Of course, discard Marc-Ange Draco’s involvement from the third book.

    That's what I think too. Meanwhile, film them back to back to back, Lord of the Rings/ Harry Potter style. Maybe go so far as the Jurassic World and the Star Wars sequel trilogies, with a different director for the second film, and someone does the first and last.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited October 2018 Posts: 17,728
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Look what they did with Mathis already in QoS anyhow!

    You're right. As I said before, he deserves redemption. He's Bond's friend just as much as Felix Leiter.

    And, I might have added, I didn't care for what they did to Mathis in CR '06. Making him look like a traitor was not a good move. He's Bond's friend and that should be that.

    However, Eon was probably throwing in something to fool literary Bond fans and mix itk up a bit, as my friend suggested after we saw it in the cinema. I still didn't like it, mind, but at least they redeemed him in QoS, albeit just before killing him off.

    I also didn't like the fact that Mathis was merely a cover name and not his real name. What can I say? I'm a literary Bond purist in these kind of matters! I'm also a major defender of the continuation Bond project as well, if you can square that circle! ;)
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    edited October 2018 Posts: 12,914
    Mathis wasn't a cover name.

    Bond's question is the darkest humor ("Is Mathis your cover name?").

    Mathis' response ("Yes...") confirms that returning to South America he used his own name, Mathis. Not a cover name.

    Bond's next comment ("Not a very good one, is it?") gets a painful laugh from Mathis. He was careless believing his old contacts were still good, and it was the death of him. A fatal mistake.

    The dialog isn't to be taken literally, it has a deeper meaning.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 5,921
    No. Mathis is his cover name. The joke is that he looks far more Italian than French.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,914
    Funny. So the underlying nudge would be that Bond is a cover name.

    I don't like that movie.
  • Mathis wasn't a cover name.

    Bond's question is the darkest humor ("Is Mathis your cover name?").

    Mathis' response ("Yes...") confirms that returning to South America he used his own name, Mathis. Not a cover name.

    Bond's next comment ("Not a very good one, is it?") gets a painful laugh from Mathis. He was careless believing his old contacts were still good, and it was the death of him. A fatal mistake.

    The dialog isn't to be taken literally, it has a deeper meaning.

    I had never interpreted the dialogue this way, but it makes perfect sense. I had never liked the idea of Mathis being a cover name either, so thank you, @RichardTheBruce, for providing me a perfectly plausible alternative. You've just made QoS one shade greater in my eyes than it already is.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,914
    I should add Casino Royale is my favorite Fleming novel, and Mathis is of course one of my favorite characters.

    I was surprised and saddened when Mathis was both finally introduced but then extinguished across only two films. On the other hand, the light that burns half as long burns twice as brightly. They actually did mine gold from Mathis, he's given a focus and purpose for his death rarely seen in Bond films. For Bond to stop and hold his dying friend in his arms, a friend he never should have doubted, those moments taken are a rarity and show great respect after all. Then the point is made OO7 must continue the mission.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    They killed Henderson off in the film series, too. Something that didn't occur in the books.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,914
    I should also add I'd like to see the non-Fleming John Gardner book Icebreaker filmed.

    Maybe not enough set-pieces for an entire film. But I want to see the beautifully capable Mossad agent. The Finland and Arctic Circle locations, snow machine travel through the wilderness. The ice torture would be especially compelling. Might have to lose the Nazi connections. Or not.

    But most of all: Bond's car battling 3 huge snowplows on a roadway grid of furious action. And find some excuse to include a (rental) 1981 Saab 900 Turbo. The Silver Beast, with optional extras.

    Of course update it to the 21st Century in the style of Casino Royale. Easy.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQNkIBhV4IzTBzTdVXmH2PVjtnWt9AiS0gUQR46E5WRB0tJ2f9kvw363da8890b79186d87ce0e34f683ad67--turbo-s-car-illustration.jpg0023017089e9f5e76bedbf3f05025ccc.jpg.c5f38eb298a6263ef33b51bfcf091346.jpg

  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    I should also add I'd like to see the non-Fleming John Gardner book Icebreaker filmed.

    Maybe not enough set-pieces for an entire film. But I want to see the beautifully capable Mossad agent. The Finland and Arctic Circle locations, snow machine travel through the wilderness. The ice torture would be especially compelling. Might have to lose the Nazi connections. Or not.

    But most of all: Bond's car battling 3 huge snowplows on a roadway grid of furious action. And find some excuse to include a (rental) 1981 Saab 900 Turbo. The Silver Beast, with optional extras.

    Of course update it to the 21st Century in the style of Casino Royale. Easy.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQNkIBhV4IzTBzTdVXmH2PVjtnWt9AiS0gUQR46E5WRB0tJ2f9kvw363da8890b79186d87ce0e34f683ad67--turbo-s-car-illustration.jpg0023017089e9f5e76bedbf3f05025ccc.jpg.c5f38eb298a6263ef33b51bfcf091346.jpg

    I agree 100%. It should be the one John Gardener book EON should adapt. As you said with CR, just set in modern day.
  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    Mathis wasn't a cover name.

    Bond's question is the darkest humor ("Is Mathis your cover name?").

    Mathis' response ("Yes...") confirms that returning to South America he used his own name, Mathis. Not a cover name.

    Bond's next comment ("Not a very good one, is it?") gets a painful laugh from Mathis. He was careless believing his old contacts were still good, and it was the death of him. A fatal mistake.

    The dialog isn't to be taken literally, it has a deeper meaning.

    I had never interpreted the dialogue this way, but it makes perfect sense. I had never liked the idea of Mathis being a cover name either, so thank you, @RichardTheBruce, for providing me a perfectly plausible alternative. You've just made QoS one shade greater in my eyes than it already is.

    Totally agreed. This definitely elevates QoS even further to my eyes even though I loved it already.

    Now what bothers me is the "forgive" lines, why does Mathis ask for Bond's forgiveness? He never did him any harm, did he?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited October 2018 Posts: 17,728
    I should also add I'd like to see the non-Fleming John Gardner book Icebreaker filmed.

    Maybe not enough set-pieces for an entire film. But I want to see the beautifully capable Mossad agent. The Finland and Arctic Circle locations, snow machine travel through the wilderness. The ice torture would be especially compelling. Might have to lose the Nazi connections. Or not.

    But most of all: Bond's car battling 3 huge snowplows on a roadway grid of furious action. And find some excuse to include a (rental) 1981 Saab 900 Turbo. The Silver Beast, with optional extras.

    Of course update it to the 21st Century in the style of Casino Royale. Easy.

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQNkIBhV4IzTBzTdVXmH2PVjtnWt9AiS0gUQR46E5WRB0tJ2f9kvw363da8890b79186d87ce0e34f683ad67--turbo-s-car-illustration.jpg0023017089e9f5e76bedbf3f05025ccc.jpg.c5f38eb298a6263ef33b51bfcf091346.jpg

    You'll not find any complaints from me either in that regard. I've long been a proponent of filming some of the Bond Continuation novels. Icebreaker is one of my favourites from Gardner and it was his own personal favourite up until he wrote TMFB.
  • mybudgetbondmybudgetbond The World
    Posts: 189
    Icebreaker is one of my favourite Gardner novels. It's an excellent stand alone. This gets my vote too, alongside Colonel Sun and Trigger Mortis.
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